[SOLUTION] Please describe your proposed solution.
How we perceive the problem to be solved
In the Cardano ecosystem there is a lack of information and guidance on what an Open Source strategy is. What are the implications of opting for an Open Source path ? Coupled with this is a lack of understanding of Open Source licenses and tools. What is the appropriate OS license to use ? How can OS tools such as GitHub be used to manage projects ?
What is our solution ?
The F11 Open Source Strategy proposal aims to contribute to building an Open Source culture in Cardano. We will provide information, guidance and workshops on Open Source Strategy, what Open Source licenses mean, how to implement them and how to use Open Source tools.
Information and Guidance will provided on the following subjects :
Open Source Strategy
Building on our previous proposals, we will consider the place of Open Source within a blockchain environment. We will focus on what lessons can be learnt from the past, and present a guide to Open Source practice.
Open Source Licenses
As a supplement to this guide we will also outline what the various Open Source licenses mean. Why are certain licenses chosen, and what alternatives does Creative Commons offer ?
How to use Open Source Tools
We will also address what Open Source tools can offer to project management of Catalyst proposals. Including how to use a GitHub project board and issues to document, track and report on work. For example, how to integrate milestones into a Project Board.
How to build an Open Source Culture
Our videos will engage users in hands-on use of Open Source tools and in After Town Hall discussions of real world use-cases of Open Source tools.
The reasons for our approach
Our approach is iterative and cumulative building on previous Catalyst proposals. The reason for this approach is to practice and experiment with open source methods in diverse and decentralized environments. Working with a broad range of community projects.
Who we will engage
We will engage users either through After Town Halls, videos, Social Media and text based resources.
How we will demonstrate our impact.
We will demonstrate our impact with a range of sources including detailed documentation of our milestones through integrated GitHub issues and community feedback. Where appropriate we will produce short video guides.
What is unique about your solution, who will benefit, and why this is important to Cardano.
Unique
Our solution is unique in offering the resources of a well-established team with existing community connections. This provides a degree of trust, familiarity and reliability to our partners, collaborators and users.
Who benefits
Our resources will benefit funded Catalyst proposers and Cardano community members by assisting in the management of their projects using Open Source tools. For example by providing guidance in the use of templates and automation of monthly milestone reporting. In particular we can advise on advanced use of GitHub project boards, data export and integration with other platforms such as Notion and Google.
Why important
This proposal is an important element in the evolution of an open source culture in the Cardano community. We intend to establish community based standards and promote the use of OS tools.
[IMPACT] Please define the positive impact your project will have on the wider Cardano community.
The F11 Open Source Strategy proposal will bring value to the Cardano Community by supporting other Catalyst proposals in generating business value and promoting OS contributions in the Cardano community.
Our proposal aims to do this by facilitating an increase of knowledge of OS strategy, licenses and tools in the community. In particular we will assist projects in improving their documentation and transparency. This addresses the Challenge's guiding questions on how to align between different Open Source community efforts and encouraging collaboration and sharing of knowledge and work.
We will measure impact through education for development, incentive mechanisms through workshop bounties, common audit standards, and the provision of organized events.
[CAPABILITY & FEASIBILITY] What is your capability to deliver your project with high levels of trust and accountability? How do you intend to validate if your approach is feasible?
Our capability is spread between our project manager, workshop facilitator, development and treasury guild support. Our team (outlined in the [RESOURCES & VALUE FOR MONEY] section below) have already delivered several proposals successfully and worked in collaboration with a broad range of community projects.
Part of our team is a Treasury Guild with extensive experience in fund management, and disbursement. They are trusted with the management of funds for several projects, including the ones that will use these tools. Our GitHub project boards will feature the ADA amounts to be paid out for specific tasks, enabling financial transparency and accountability
[Project Milestones] What are the key milestones you need to achieve in order to complete your project successfully?
Milestone 1 - Preliminary work
This milestone will deliver the preliminary administrative setup including GitHub project management configuration, GitBook preparation and purchase of software.
Main task & Key Activities (outputs) - Preliminary work. Planning, Administrative setup and purchase of software
Success or acceptance criteria - A successful setup. Administrative setup and purchase of software
Proposed cost - 5200 in ADA - approx 9 % of total
Expected timeline - March 2024
>Milestone 2 - Open Source Strategy
A guide to Open Source Strategy.
Main task & Key Activities (outputs) - Open Source Strategy
Success or acceptance criteria - A guide to Open Source Strategy
Proposed cost - 10800 in ADA - approx 19 % of total
Expected timeline - April 2024
>Milestone 3 - Open Source Licenses
A guide to Open Source Licenses.
Main task & Key Activities (outputs) - Open Source Licenses
Success or acceptance criteria - A guide to Open Source Licenses.
Proposed cost - 10800 in ADA - approx 19 % of total
Expected timeline - May 2024
>Milestone 4 - How to use Open Source Tools
A guide to how to use Open Source Tools
Main task & Key Activities (outputs) - How to use Open Source Tools
Success or acceptance criteria - A guide to how to use Open Source Tools
Proposed cost - 10800 in ADA - approx 19 % of total
Expected timeline - June 2024
>Milestone 5 - Open Source Culture Videos
Planning and facilitation of 3 X Open Source Culture Videos
Main task & Key Activities (outputs) - 3 X Open Source Culture Videos
Success or acceptance criteria - Completion of 3 X Open Source Culture Videos
Proposed cost - 9600 in ADA - approx 17 % of total
Expected timeline - July 2024
>Final Milestone - After Town Halls & Close Out
Main task & Key Activities (outputs) - 2 x After Town Halls, & Close Out Report
Success or acceptance criteria - Delivery and video of 2 After TownHalls. Completion of close-out report
Proposed cost - 9600 in ADA - approx 17 % of total
Expected timeline - March 2024
[RESOURCES] Who is in the project team and what are their roles?
Andre Diamond has experience in Javascript frontend web development, GitHub automation and Database management. In November 2021, he joined the Catalyst Circle Admin team as Treasurer and later co-founded the Treasury Guild with Miroslav, Felix, and Tevo to amplify support for projects in the Catalyst community. Andre has also worked alongside Stephen to provide Automation tools to projects operating in Catalyst. Currently responsible for development on the Treasury Guild treasury dApp and other tools in the ecosystem.
Stephen Whitenstall is the co-founder of Quality-Assurance DAO, <https://qadao.io/> , and has provided project management consultancy for many Catalyst projects since Fund 4 including Catalyst Circle, Audit Circle, Community Governance Oversight, Training & Automation (with Treasury Guild), Governance Guild and Swarm. A Circle V2 representative for funded proposers. Also engaged in cross chain collaboration with SingularityNET managing an Archive project. He has 30 years experience in development, test management, project management, social enterprises in Investment Banking, Telecoms and Local Government. A philosophy honors graduate with an interest in Blockchain governance.
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LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephen-whitenstall-166727210/
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Twitter: https://twitter.com/qa_dao
[BUDGET & COSTS] Please provide a cost breakdown of the proposed work and resources.
Software Licenses & Services
(GitBook, Subscriptions and Services)
400 ADA
Project Management
(project management coordination, monthly milestone reporting and close out report)
3000 ADA
(monthly milestone reporting)
2000 ADA
Publicity
(Publicizing your work to the community - posts on Telegram, Discord and Twitter)
1000 ADA
Research & Documenation
(Open Source Strategy - research, documentation)
10000 ADA
(Open Source Licenses- research, documentation)
10000 ADA
(How to use Open Source Tools- research, documentation)
10000 ADA
Communications
(Production of 3 X Open Source Culture Videos at 2800 ADA each)
8400 ADA
(2 X After Town Halls)
2000 ADA
Treasury
(Administration of Budget by Treasury Guild)
(2000 ADA X 5)
10000 ADA
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Total - 56800 ADA
[VALUE FOR MONEY] How does the cost of the project represent value for money for the Cardano ecosystem?
The pay rates given are self-employed rates that take into account the employment overheads of the resources contracted. The rates are based on the low end of US and European averages. The amounts are calculated for each milestone based on the hours to complete.
A freelance Accountant can charge from $50/hr. Treasury Guild is charging $50/hr for wallet setup, admin and payments. [Source - Accountant Hourly Rates | Crowdsourced List (contractrates.fyi)]
A freelance project manager can charge from $50/hr. In addition management of this project requires knowledge of open source software tools and an awareness of blockchain technology. [Source - Project Management Fees | Hourly & Consulting Rates | Salaries – OCM Solution]
In addition all the resources working on this project are taking on the currency risk of being paid in ADA. This means that a fall in the ADA price will result in being paid less or delivering less in each milestone. Any rise in the ADA price will represent a reward for investing in the Cardano ecosystem.
Consequently, given these factors, we believe this proposal offers excellent value for money in a volatile cryptocurrency environment.
